Inside the Institute

These 5 New Products Make Cleaning Easier

Every new product that comes across my desk claims to make some household chore quicker, easier, or sometimes even safer to do. At first glance, most appear to have merit, but further probing sometimes reveals that they don't quite meet their claims. But here are five newcomers I'm confident will deliver on their promises.

1. Clorox Disinfecting Tub & Shower Wipes ($2.99 for 35 wipes) These wipes eliminate the need for a brush and some elbow grease. Ridding the tub and shower of soap scum usually takes so much effort, but Clorox has turned this chore into a quick swipe every day or so across the tub’s bottom or along the lowest row of tiles where soap scum builds up. An added bonus: These wipes kill germs, too.

2. Finish Power & Free Dishwashing Products (prices vary) Removing dried-on foods and stains is no easy feat, so dishwashing detergents need to be tough. Now, a gentler detergent is up to the challenge: Finish's Power & Free line. Their formulation replaces some ingredients, like hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine to fight stains, and uses less fragrances and dyes, but is still an effective alternative to traditional detergents. A new Good Housekeeping Research Institute Seal holder, Finish offers formulas in its Quantum, Powerball, and Jet Dry products.

3. Brillo Sweep & Mop ($20 for the starter kit) Also a new Good Housekeeping Seal-holder is Brillo’s new Sweep & Mop. The company that manufacturers the classic steel wool soap pad we all grew up using has expanded its line to include sponges and floor cleaning products, too. Sweep & Mop is an innovative 3-in-1 mopping system to clean virtually any hard flooring surface. Its disposable dry pads are great for dusting, its wet pads are good for a quick washing, and its deep clean pads are for more thorough scrubbing using your own cleaner and a bucket. All are simple to attach and remove and the mop itself is easy to wring, rotates to fit into tight spaces, and even stands up on its own when stored. Love that!

4. Febreze Allergen Reducer($4.29 for 16.9 oz.) If allergies to pollen, dust, and pet dander plague your family, Febreze Allergen Reducer can help. Apply it to sofas, pillows, carpeting, comforters, or any hard-to-wash soft surface. It forms a flexible, invisible barrier that, once dry, keeps the allergens in these materials from billowing out when you fluff, sit on, or vacuum them, but won’t build up or change the feel of your fabrics. Febreze’s newest formula is even more effective than the previous one and now comes unscented, too.

5. Quickie Reusable Microfiber Cloths ($5.99 for 16 cloths)I’ll be the first to admit that I love microfiber cloths, but some jobs, like cleaning outdoor furniture, are just too dirty for my good cloths and too tough for paper towels. That’s where Quickie’s new Reusable Microfiber Cloths come in. They are thin, flexible, and easy to grasp, yet reinforced and tear resistant. You can use them wet or dry and wash them up to 20 times, or just toss them when they get too dirty. They're the perfect balance between disposable and reusable.

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